London steal it over Wicklow with late goals

Wicklow 0-12 London 2-08: We came, we saw, we conquered – could well sum up Paul Goggins’ feelings as he left Baltinglass on Sunday evening.

Dubliner Johnny McGee has taken Wicklow through a most disappointing campaign in the NFL but as he headed into this final match he was still hoping to end on a winning note.

It was not to be. While Wicklow led by 0-5 to 0-4 at half-time and had extended that to a three-point lead at the three-quarter stage, the exiles struck with late goals from Martin Carroll and Alan O’Hara to snatch a deserved victory, O’Hara’s winner capping a man-of-the-match display.

Scorers for London: A O’Hara (1-3); M Carroll (1-0); S Conroy (0-2f); L Mulvey (0-1f); M Gottsche (0-1f); P McGoldrick (0-1).

Scorers for Wicklow: J McGrath (0-6, 0-5f, 0-1 ‘45); P Cronin (0-2); A. McLoughlin, C Kelly, D Healy, M. Mangan (0-1 each).

LONDON: D. Traynor, P. Butler, P. Galvin, M. Walsh, D. McGreevy, C. Carty, D. McCarthy, C. Greene, M. Carroll, S. Conroy, M. Gottsche, B. Smith, A O’Hara, L. Mulvey, P. McGoldrick.

Subs for London: J. Finn for S. Conroy (30), A. Moyles for P. McGoldrick (41), B. Kavanagh for D. Traynor (51), S. Devine for P. Butler (B/C 69), S. Buckley for B. Smith (60).

WICKLOW: A. Murphy, P. Cunningham, A. McLoughlin, B. Kennedy, C. Murphy, P. McLoughlin, K. Murphy, D. Woods, D. Healy, M. Kenny, S. Kelly, D. Hayden, P. Cronin, T. Kelly, J. McGrath.

Subs for Wicklow: R. O’Brien for D. Woods (30), P. McWalter for M. Kenny (36), P. Byrne for T. Kelly (50), M Mangan for K. Murphy (52), C French for D. Hayden (60), K Rogers for C. Murphy (67).

Referee: G. McCormack (Dublin)